COVID-Tech
Technologies against a pandemic
Since mid-May, the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia has been gradually declining. The peak occurred on the 11th – 11,656 new cases of diseases per day, after which, as can be seen from the incidence charts, Russia reached a plateau in this indicator.
The exceptional nature of the disease has made technological solutions in the field of medicine especially noticeable. Bluedot's artificial intelligence was the first to predict the spread of a new type of viral pneumonia. And in early April, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that "the pandemic has caused unprecedented demand for digital health technologies and identified successful solutions, such as screening the population, tracking infection, prioritizing the use and allocation of resources and developing targeted responses."
Analysts note that, on the one hand, the pandemic has hit the global IT sector hard: Enterprise Technology Research expects a decrease in IT budgets by 3.5-4%, and Juniper Research predicts supply losses in the field of consumer electronics, from $6.71 billion to $42.37 billion by the end of the year. Accenture experts, in turn, suggest that the pandemic can not only serve as a test for the MedTech industry, but also help it to adjust to new thinking and new principles of work. This is particularly relevant for the Russian medical sphere.
To designate technologies focused on the fight against coronavirus, the neologism COVID-Tech was coined – by analogy with the names of other areas of technology development and application (FinTech, PropTech, EdTech, HR-Tech, etc.) Since April, ICT.Moscow has been collecting foreign and Russian practices in this area: a detailed timeline can be found in COVID-Tech feed. The most notable practices were highlighted and mapped.
The map is being updated.
Download:
● PDF with links to practices;
● a table with data.
Send suggestions for additions to hello@ict.moscow
The map shows 80 Russian practices in the field of COVID-Tech, they are divided into six categories:
- COVID-19 diagnostics and screenings (13 cases);
- drug search (2);
- data platforms, analytics, knowledge bases (16);
- control of dissemination and social distancing (30);
- information support (14);
- smart equipment and robots (5).
31 of them are practitioners using AI technologies.
We did not take into account practices related to biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, as well as IT practices that are not directly aimed at combating the pandemic.
We also talked with experts from the companies Care Mentor AI, Gero, and Intellogic (project Botkin.AI ), "Megaputer Intelligence", "Nanosemantics Laboratory", "Social Medicine" (CoronaStop project) about why Russian practices are not too noticeable in the international arena, has the pandemic given startups new opportunities for development and who is responsible for medical decisions made with the help of modern technologies.
What is the landscape of the Russian COVID-Tech
COVID-19 diagnostics and screenings – for medical institutions and the public
In order to help medical institutions with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and pneumonia caused by the virus, Russian developers in the field of artificial intelligence have actively joined the work. The technology proved to be extremely effective in conducting and interpreting the results of the analyses: at least eight cases were found in this segment.
At the end of April, the AI system for detecting coronavirus from CT images was integrated into the Moscow Unified Radiological Information Center. This made it possible to reduce the burden on diagnostic doctors, in two weeks in Moscow, 30 thousand tomograms were processed in this way. And in a month it was possible to collect the world's largest database of CT scans of the chest of patients with confirmed COVID-19.
Large companies began to use their resources and solutions in the field of AI: Sberbank, Rostelecom. Profile startups began to actively help. For example, the company "Intellogic", which initially worked in the field of medical image analysis, already in early April adapted its developments for the detection of pneumonia and coronavirus Botkin.AI . The Third Opinion company also spoke about the work in this direction in April. And Care Mentor AI at the end of May introduced a tool in the field of intelligent analysis of CT images Mentor: CovidCT.
In order to reduce the risks of infection, several home testing services for coronavirus have been launched. This opportunity was provided by major IT market players Sberbank (together with DocDoc) and Yandex. Sberbank and the profile companies Artezio and Sotsmedika have also developed online questionnaires that allow users to suspect the possibility of infection with coronavirus.
Search for drugs for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19
This category is represented by the smallest number of practices, since biomedicine is not considered in the map. This includes the companies Gero and Insilico Medicine (a startup founded by a Russian scientist in the field of biotechnology Alex Zhavoronkov). These companies were included in the list of 100 global AI startups compiled by AI Venture Labs that use technologies in the fight against COVID-19.
Gero, an AI company in the field of finding drugs against various diseases and aging, has started using technology to analyze COVID-19 virus compounds. In particular, the company managed to find nine potential drugs for COVID-19.
Data platforms, analytics and knowledge bases – for developers and users
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies not only to look for specific technological solutions, but also to actively collect and broadcast information related to the disease and the pandemic. In this direction, large companies have an obvious advantage: the more data they already have, the more opportunities to get new ones (see the example of a database of CT images above).
Collaboration between large corporations and specialized companies is proving to be quite effective. So, WEB.The Russian Federation has teamed up with the Doctor Next service to launch a telemedicine support platform for the population. Sberbank has launched an older generation support service on the basis of DocDoc, which is part of its ecosystem.
Analytical companies have also joined in tracking the spread of the pandemic. We managed to find six examples of COVID analytics integration into their IT services. The company "Handisoft", for example, has prepared showcases (dashboards) with detailed up-to-date data on the coronavirus. AT Consulting Vostok has developed an IT system designed for regional operational headquarters to prevent and control the spread of viral infection.
Finally, with the help of Yandex DataLens technology, a lake of data was collected from three serious sources: Rospotrebnadzor statistics for Russia, similar data around the world from Johns Hopkins University, as well as the self-isolation index according to Yandex services itself.
Control of distribution and distancing – to combat the pandemic
Most of the cases – 27 – are presented in the category "Control of distribution and social distancing". Yandex and 2GIS, the companies that represent the largest Russian mapping services, have launched interactive maps of the spread of the disease, and Yandex has also started tracking the self–isolation index and providing information about the fullness of stores with customers.
Developers in the field of intelligent video analytics have actively joined the fight against the spread of the pandemic. One of the most notable practices in this area: the Third Opinion company has implemented an intelligent video surveillance system in one of the Medsi clinics. The system, with the consent of patients, monitors their physical activity, checks the availability of protective suits on medical staff, and also remotely collects and transmits the necessary statistics for nurses. VisionLabs, a member of Sberbank's ecosystem, has introduced a complex for identifying a person in a mask and non-contact temperature measurement TERMO.
Since one of the signs of COVID-19 disease is an elevated temperature, some companies have presented developments in the field of contactless measurement of it in passers-by. The pilot system developed by Shvabe Holding was launched at the Leningradsky Railway Station in Moscow in early May.
The company "PCT-Invent", which is part of Rusnano, in turn, adapted the technology of radio frequency tags (RFID) to identify personnel in protective equipment and monitor the use of personal protective equipment.
Information support – for the population, doctors and business
In total, we managed to find 14 different measures of information support for the population, doctors and businesses implemented by IT companies. Back in mid-March, the Russian government launched the stopcoronavirus website.the Russian Federation, which provides operational and detailed data on the spread of COVID-19. From large IT corporations, a platform for supporting citizens and businesses called "#Best House" was opened Mail.ru Group.
During the pandemic, special attention is paid to doctors. Rambler Group has launched a social support platform for medical staff "Help doctors", which allows you to remotely assist doctors, including transferring funds to help them. Mail.ru Group undertook to scale the AI system of medical image analysis to the whole country Botkin.AI , which reduces the burden on medical staff.
Chatbots are placed in a separate subcategory as a relatively new tool for supporting the population and business. In particular, the chatbot has been improved mos.ru which, during the pandemic, allows not only to receive up-to-date information, but also helps to receive and check electronic passes.
In April, the developer of the voice artificial intelligence Dasha.AI has adapted its solution for businesses and enterprises to reduce the risk of infection of employees who work in quarantine. The virtual assistant can independently call employees, find out about their well-being and make recommendations depending on the answers. Finally, the Voximplant voice assistant, created on the basis of Yandex speech synthesis and recognition technology, has been used since mid-April to inform the population by the government of the Moscow Region.
Smart equipment – for medical institutions and public areas
Another company that got into the international list of AI Venture Labs is the Russian robot developer Promobot, which in mid–April introduced a robot to fight COVID-19. With the help of built-in equipment, it is able to conduct a medical survey, collect anamnesis, analyze, and issue research results.
Sberbank has managed to develop its own disinfection robot, which can disinfect the room with the help of built-in ultraviolet lamps. The company offers to use it in public institutions and transport.
BM GROUP introduced the IMMUNO pandemic prevention kiosk in early April. Among its functions are temperature measurement using an IR sensor, the issuance of masks, antiseptics, air purification. The company assumes that such devices installed in offices and public places will provide a high level of antivirus security.
Experts – about the Russian sphere of COVID-Tech
Why our companies are invisible abroad
If there are so many COVID-Tech practices in Russia, then the question arises: why did AI Venture Labs, which counted 100 startups and companies in this field worldwide, find only three companies with Russian roots in Russia (Promobot, Gero and Insilico Medicine)? Even taking into account the fact that only AI developers were taken into account, this is far from a complete picture: on the map, Russian AI practices from different companies are marked with the abbreviation AI, there are already more than 30 of them in total.
We decided to find out from experts why Russian companies are so poorly represented on the international market.
Maxim Kholin, co-founder of Gero, which was included in the AI Venture Labs list, comments on this fact: "Too little time has passed to judge the results. Medicine and pharmacology in the XXI century are high technologies and huge costs. Therefore, the share of Russian solutions, unfortunately, is adequate to the capabilities of our economy, including the capabilities of the national research financing system and the venture capital investment market."
Stanislav Ashmanov, CEO of Nanosemantics Laboratory and Ashmanov Neural Networks, also believes that it will be possible to talk about the prospects of domestic solutions abroad later: "We are witnessing a difficult but interesting time. Russian developers had the opportunity to demonstrate their skills by paying as much attention as possible to research and development of new products for healthcare using AI technologies. However, the achievements of Russian developers are still primarily aimed at meeting the needs of Russian healthcare."
Dmitry Goltsov, head of the commercial direction of Megaputer Intelligence, also notes that domestic developments in this area are focused on the internal user, and in the mass – on the public sector at all: "The desire for international positioning in small Russian businesses is poorly expressed, and without this the world ratings simply do not notice us."
Gevorg Blejyants, CEO of Sotsmedika, believes that ratings are not the main thing, since the work of a doctor, even at a computer, is to save lives, and not to be recognized: "The very concept of a startup is based on the application of the best international developments and knowledge. Of course, we are aimed at communicating with colleagues around the globe. But, as you understand, ratings are different."
About new opportunities for startups
We asked industry representatives whether the COVID-19 pandemic and the desire to fight it contribute to the development of technology startups in Russia.
Pavel Roitberg, co-founder of Care Mentor AI, believes that this process is generally quite complicated, the chances of being noticed and putting their developments into practice have increased only for those companies that have a product and a strong development team.
Sergey Sorokin, General Director of the company "Intellojik" (project Botkin.AI ) believes that startups, thanks to the pandemic, really have chances to attract attention, but this is not necessarily a positive moment: "There are chances for startups with solutions on the topic of COVID-19 to be noticed, but this does not greatly increase the chances of introducing their own developments in practice. Because the products of companies with a quality product were noticeable and in demand even before the pandemic, and the pandemic cannot affect the improvement of the quality of products."
Maxim Kholin from Gero cites the British company Benevolent AI as a foreign example when an IT company managed to declare itself. She proposed a solution – a cure for COVID-19 (more precisely, for complications from this disease) and licensed a molecule ready for clinical research from the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
Stanislav Ashmanov also assumes that due to the pandemic, the demand for solutions that do not require the participation of people will grow: "Many funds are ready to financially support strong projects that can solve acute problems with the help of IT, for example: digitalization of business processes, online training. The pandemic has provoked the emergence of a significant number of tasks in various fields, and they are waiting for their solutions. This is fertile ground for the development of startups."
Gevorg Blejyants, CEO of Sotsmedika, recalls that adaptation to current issues is inherent in the very nature of startups: "The nature of a successful startup is to clearly catch the requests of society and the state for the most relevant and necessary products. Our developments have proved to be incredibly in demand over the past few weeks by both the professional community – our colleagues – and ordinary citizens."
Dmitry Goltsov from Megaputer Intelligence agrees with this point of view: "In my opinion, domestic developers have demonstrated impressive productivity both in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic and in the implementation of technological means of adapting the state, business and the population to quarantine realities. Combining a lot of research and development of domestic specialists, we get the most objective information about the spread of infection. The combination of the results of such models is used in the planning of their activities by both authorities and business representatives. We can say with confidence that Russia is definitely not lagging behind in this direction."
On responsibility for decision-making
One of the key questions in the field of MedTech in general and COVID-Tech in particular is who is responsible if the program makes a mistake (for example, in making a diagnosis).
Pavel Roitberg, co-founder of Care Mentor AIStartap: "He may well take standard responsibility based on common sense. If you offer your services to deliver food as a volunteer, in a personal car and get into an accident, you are probably responsible for all the damage caused."
Gevorg Blejyants believes that regardless of the technologies used, the doctor is always responsible: "Any systems for supporting medical decision–making are, as indicated in the definition itself, primarily support, and not the ultimate truth.
Of course, we offer full-fledged, constantly updated databases and civil law modules. This is done so that the doctor feels comfortable in a working, even an extreme situation. But, one way or another, all decisions remain solely for him."
Stanislav Ashmanov also reminds that the main task of IT startups in the field of medicine is only to supplement information and help a doctor, whereas a professional expert opinion is required directly for treatment. The main advantage of modern technologies, including AI, is the expansion of the boundaries of medical resources, but not the replacement of doctors.
Maxim Kholin emphasizes that when it comes to diagnosis and treatment, any solution, including technological, must undergo registration procedures: "Most often this implies decisions of ethical committees and tests on patients. In this sense, there are significant but reasonable legal and regulatory barriers. The existing requirements are absolutely justified, as they protect all market participants: patients, developers and doctors."
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru